Former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan, recently granted a presidential pardon by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, says his prison experience taught him valuable lessons about life, destiny, and political loyalty.
Lawan, one of the 175 individuals pardoned by President Tinubu on October 9, 2025, following recommendations from the Council of State, described the gesture as an opportunity to begin a new chapter, particularly in politics.
The former lawmaker, who represented Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency in Kano State, was convicted in 2021 for allegedly soliciting and accepting bribes in 2012 to remove a company from the list of firms implicated in Nigeria’s fuel subsidy scandal. He was sentenced to seven years in prison by a Federal High Court on June 22, 2021.
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In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service monitored in Kaduna on Tuesday, Lawan expressed gratitude for the pardon, saying it was a divine act that brought immense joy to his family and supporters.
“When someone goes through a trial and Allah grants a chance for pardon, you must be thankful. My family and well-wishers across the world were filled with joy when the news broke,” he said.
“It was indeed a day of thanksgiving to Allah for making it possible, and to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for doing what is right and commendable.”
Reflecting on his time in prison, Lawan said he had accepted his fate with calmness, realizing that everything was in Allah’s hands.
“Before I even got to prison, my mind was at peace. I knew that wherever I was going, I would meet people — and if others could survive there, I too could live through it,” he said.
After his release in 2024, Lawan said he reassessed his political direction, parting ways with the Kwankwasiyya movement led by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Though he was a member of the PDP at the time of his imprisonment, he had instructed his supporters to join the NNPP ahead of the 2023 elections — a decision they followed.
He explained that his incarceration revealed who his true allies were.
“When Allah allows you to face trials, He also opens your eyes to see who your real friends are. When you’re in a place like prison, you have enough time to reflect deeply on your relationships,” Lawan stated.
He disclosed that despite his long association with the Kwankwasiyya movement, a prominent figure within the group never reached out to him during or after his ordeal.
“It’s been a year now, and not even a phone call from him — not to say ‘thank you, Allah, you’re out,’ or offer a prayer for me,” he said.
While maintaining mutual respect for Senator Kwankwaso, Lawan noted that he now seeks to align himself with a political party with broader national appeal.
“I have no reason not to join the APC. The party has nationwide acceptance, and I want to contribute meaningfully to the development of our country,” he said.
